Apparatus for treating petroleum oil



M rch 1927:,

a 8 H. J. HALLE -APPARATUS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM OIL Original FiledSept. 1, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8 1927.

H. J. HALLE APPARATUS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM on Original Filed Sept. 1,

1920 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l I WM I .Wdhl l A mT o I. Mu ww mWImuIHIllrrkww m J@atented 8, 1927.

UNITED r ce.

BEAM 1'. HALLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 UNIVERSAL OIL IPRODUCTSCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

APIEABATUS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM OIL.

Application filed September 1, 1920, Serial No. 407,329. RenewedSeptember 18, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treatingpetroleum oil and refers more particularly to an apparatus adapted forconversion of relatively heavy hydrocarbons into lighter or lowerboiling oint hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or gasoine like bodies.

In the cracking of petroleum oil, theeiiective utilization of the fuelused in heating the oil to the cracking temperature is a prac ticalproblem of prime importance. In the cracking of petroleum oil underrelatively high temperatures and pressures, the fuel cost is high, andthis is true, even in most efficient firebox construction. The transferof the thermal units to the oil is subject ,to the usual stack. lossesand losses by radiation. One of the objects of this invention is toreduce this fuel cost to a minimum and obtain efi'ective heat transferto providean equable uniform heating of all parts of the oil instead oflocal high and low temperatures in different parts of the oil body. Iaccomplish this object by causing the gases of combustion, before theyreach the stack, to pass through a heating coil or flue extendingthrough and entirely surrounded by the oil stream under treatment.Preferably, the fuel coil or coil for the gases of combustion isinternally arranged within the heating coil which carries the oil. Bythis method and means, I am enabled to secure, as will be seen, a mosteffective heat transfer, while at the same time in no way interferingwith a the continuous passage of the oil through the heating coil.

As a further object of the invention, effective means are rovided forpreventin local overheating o the tubes through whic 1 the oil passes,while at the same time, permitting of a controlled heating whereby theoil tubes may be either externally or internally heated, or both.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in vertical section, partly in side elevation,with parts shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale, of both the oil coil and the coilfor gases of combustion, with parts broken away to reduce the size ofthe drawing.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on a still larger scale.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1, designates the furnace providedwith burner 2, bridge wall 3, combustion chamber or fire box 4 and stack5. lVithin the combustion chamber is mounted the coil for containing theoil, designated as a whole 6, which coil comprises a series of tube 7,these tubes be ing connected at their ends by the headers 8 and flanges9 and 10. The'arrangement is such that the oil enters the charging line11 and after passing through the coil, discharges into the vapor chamber12 through the transfer line 13. The vapor chamber 12 is preferablylocated outside of the fire box as shown and may take the form of acylinder of relatively large diameter.

The charging stock may be continuously fed to the oil coil by a pump(not shown) connected to any suitable source of supply. Vapors pass outof the upper part of the vapor chamber through gooseneck 14 to a refluxcondenser 15, the upper part of which is connected by a-line 16 to watercondenser 17 seated in condenser box 18. The condenser coil 17 isconnected to receiver 19, which receiver is provided with liquid levelgauge 20and pressure gauge 21. The receiver is also provided with liquiddrawoif pipe 22, controlled by throttle valve 23 and gas outlet 24,controlled by valve 25.

Throttle valves 26 and 27 may be interposed in the lines 14 and 16respectively as shown. and similarly, athrottle valve 28 may beinterposed in the transfer line 13. The vapor chamber is also providedwith residue drawofi' pipe 29, controlled by throttle valve 30.

Describing now more particularly the manner of heating the oil, it willbe noted that the gases of combustion may pass externally around the oilheating coil and thence into the common flue 31. The passage of thegases from the flue 31 to the stack 5 is controlled by a manuallyoperated damper 321.- As a novel feature of the invention, the gases ofcombustion can also pass through the flue coil 33, which extendsinternally through the oil coil 6. Referring more particularly to' Figs.2 and 3, this coil 33 takes theform of relatively smaller pipes or tubes34, which are connected through the headers 8 by means of the elbows 35and unions 36. The inlet end of the coil 33 is connected by. pipe 37 tothe main flue 31."

posed in the pipe 37. The gases of combustion, after passing through thecoil 33 are delivered to the'stack 5 by means of the discharge pipe 39.A manually controlled damper 40 is interposed in the pipe 39.

It will be noted that there are two banks of the oil heating coils andthere are similarly two banks of the flue coils. The internal diameterof the tubes forming the oil coil is somewhat larger than the externaldiameter of the flue coil so as to permit of a relatively shallow streamof oil passing freely through the outer or larger tubes. The internaltubes are arranged concentric of the outer ones and separated therefromby means of the lugs 41, these lugs 41 preferably extending spirallyaround the inner tubes so as to more efl'ectively brace the structure,and to cause a mixing action, so as to expose all the particles of oilto a uniform heat and cracking action.

By means of the foregoing construction, I can simultaneously, bothexternally and internally, heat the stream of oil passing through theheating tubes and by closing the damper 32, I can compel all theproducts of combustion to pass through the flue coil 33 or by partialclosing thereof I can compel a part of these gases to pass therethrough.Similarly, by regulating the dampers 38 and 40, I can control thepassage of gases of combustion through the coil 33. The oil undertreatment may be maintained under a uniform vapor pressure throughoutthe system of 100 pounds to the square inch and the reflux condensatedrawn off from the bottom of the reflux condenser 15 through the pipe15, controlled by throttle valve 15 and sent back either to the chargingline or to any other suitable receptacle where it may be further treatedas desired. If desired, a diiferential pressure may be-maintained uponthe system by suitably regulating the valves shown.

The most important feature of'the invention, however, lies in the mannerof heating the oil and it may be noted that the flow of the gases ofcombustion through the internal heating'coil may be readily controlledand varied as the process continues. However, care should be taken atall times to keep the oil "in liquid phase in the oil tubes so as toprevent carbon in these tubes precipitating, with constant clogging upor injury to the tubes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for cracking petroleum oil, the combination with acoil located in a furnace through which oil is continuously passed, ofasecond coil disposed within said oil coil forming an annular oilpassageway, spirally arranged spacing lugs carried by said second coil,to space the same from the oil coil and act as battles for the oilpassing through said annular passageway, a fiue leadlng from thefurnace, means for withdrawing heated gases fron. said flue to be passedthrough said second coil to internally heat the oil passing'through saidannular passageway.

2. In an apparatus for cracking petro leum oil, the combination with acoil located in a furnace through which oil is continuously passed, of asecond coil disposed within said oil coil forming an annular oilpassageway, spirally arranged elements mounted between the two coils tospace the two coils from each other and act as 'bafiies for the oilpassing through said annular passageway, a flue leading from thefurnace, means for withdrawing heated gases from the furnace to bepassed through said second coil to internally'heat the oil passingthrough said annular passageway.

' HIRAM J. HALLE.

